§ Mr. WilkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what prior notice he received of the arrest of Senator Pinochet of Chile. [57028]
§ Mr. Tony Lloyd[holding answer 28 October 1998]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was briefed shortly after the Metropolitan Police received the request from the Spanish authorities for the provisional arrest of Senator Pinochet.
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§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when(a) he and (b) his officials were first informed that Senator Pinochet had entered the United Kingdom on his current visit. [57426]
§ Mr. Tony LloydMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was first informed on 16 October, when he was briefed about the Spanish authorities' request to the Metropolitan Police for the provisional arrest of Senator Pinochet. The Chilean Embassy formally confirmed to FCO officials on 9 October that Senator Pinochet was present in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements were made by his officials to receive Senator Pinochet when he arrived at Heathrow Airport for his current visit. [57425]
§ Mr. Tony LloydAt the request of the Chilean Embassy, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office arranged for Senator Pinochet to use the VIP lounge on his arrival at Heathrow Airport, but there was no official reception and no representative of the FCO was present when Senator Pinochet arrived.
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those people who contacted him or his officials about the diplomatic status of Senator Pinochet prior to the senator's arrest. [57414]
§ Mr. Tony LloydOnly officers of the Metropolitan Police contacted Foreign and Commonwealth officials about Senator Pinochet's diplomatic status prior to the Senator's arrest on 16 October.
§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from whom and when he obtained advice on Senator Pinochet's entitlement to diplomatic immunity. [57969]
§ Mr. Tony Lloyd[holding answer 2 November 1998]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was told on the evening of 16 October of the advice on this subject that had been given by FCO officials to the Metropolitan Police.
§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department gave the Metropolitan Police on Senator Pinochet's entitlement to diplomatic immunity. [57968]
§ Mr. Tony Lloyd[holding answer 2 November 1998]: This Department informed the Metropolitan Police that there were no grounds on the basis of immunity for not proceeding with the provisional arrest warrant.
§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to whom, apart from the Metropolitan Police, his Department gave advice on Senator Pinochet's diplomatic immunity. [57967]
§ Mr. Tony LloydIn addition to the advice on diplomatic immunity given to the Metropolitan Police before the arrest, this Department subsequently assisted the Home Office and their legal representatives in connection with the divisional court proceedings against my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.